Back in 05 I had to pull wire rope up the side of a mountain trail at 12,000ft through 2-3' of snow. That's when I decided to go with synthetic rope.

It doesn't see much UV and works as well as the day I bought it...

The CC used on the winter roads in Colo. is not that rope's friend either.
My 8274 is 36+ years old, been rebuilt by me twice(didn't need it, just wanted to).
I'm still using the same 'rope' that was on it the day it was delivered.
This Warn #8274 winch has seen heavy use. NO abuse.
Can buy 150' of 5/16" dia. certified steel cable, for much less than the synthetic.
HINT to long steel cable life. Drown the spooled cable with silicon spray about once a year.
VERY valid point about drag'n cable. I swear it gains weight.
How many feet do you have on that spool?
LG

I live next door to a Tow Boat US guy with several boats that do recoveries every day and they only run synthetic rope, if its good enough for them... As for the winch I like my Warn XD9000i just fine, got it used and partially dissassembled for $280, threw probably $40 in parts at it and it works like a champ.

The CC used on the winter roads in Colo. is not that rope's friend either.

I wouldn't think it'd be worse than salt water?

Quote:

Originally Posted by LumpyGrits

Can buy 150' of 5/16" dia. certified steel cable, for much less than the synthetic.

I'll never run steel rope again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LumpyGrits

VERY valid point about drag'n cable. I swear it gains weight.
How many feet do you have on that spool?
LG

I know it does!

125ft and a few straps in the bag.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zjilla

I havent heard about it. Ive seen it. Synthetic lines will dry rot over time. Some companies put out better products than others but yes they will and if they do dry rot then under enough stress they will snap.

Have you ever had/used synthetic rope or a winch?
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ZJILLA'S JEEP Recovery
rear tow hook
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I've been using the same synthetic rope for over 8 years without issue...

Wonder what the in service life is, of that rope on the tug?
Wouldn't mine have'n a 100' or so length of syn rope, as a winch cable 'extension' that I can keep in a bag.
BTW, my son sez they only use steel cable because the unloaded syn rope goes crazy in the rotorwash even when weighted. The steel cable just 'hangs'.
LG

I like my Ramsey rep 9500. Non integrated selenoids witch I like for simplicity. Easy to repair or jump out if you need to in a jam. Got mine under $500 shipped from quadratec

Neither here nor there, but integrated solenoids just means they incorporated a little aluminum box on top of the winch to house the same solenoids that are in the ugly thing hanging off the side of the non integrated versions. Not really any more or less simple once you've taken both apart.